The Littlest Things Give the Loveliest Hugs (Mark Sperring)

Title:  The Littlest Things Give the Loveliest Hugs  

Author: Mark Sperring

Illustrator: Maddie Frost   

Target Ages: 0-6

Genre:  Bedtime Picture Book

Publisher Summary: 

From ducklings

to seal pups,

from bunnies

to cubs,

the littlest things

give the

loveliest

hugs!

In this tender celebration of love, you’ll find the sweetest bug hug, the cutest fox cuddle, and the gentlest elephant embrace you’ve ever seen!

First Lines:

How do you do it, my sweet beetle bug?

You’re ever so clever at giving a hug…

You snuggle so nicely, it really is true…

Nobody, nowhere, can cuddle like you!

Memorable Moment:

Every page is a memorable moment! 

Evaluation:

I fell in love with this book instantly!  From start to finish, the poetic language and endearing pictures pulled me in. This story is perfect for little ones cuddled on laps or snuggled close. 

The soft, vivid colors capture animals with their babies, such as seals nose to nose in the ocean, mice snuggling in the wheat field, koalas clinging to their moms in a tree, penguins holding their babies on an icy terrain, and foxes in their burrow under the night sky. 

As the nighttime creeps in, there is a shift from animals in their habitats to a mother and child hugging as they drift off to sleep in their home. 

The delightful refrain and rhythmic language are as soothing as a lullaby.  Alliterative phrases like “my duckling, my dear” and “my darling, my dove” work both for the illustrations and for terms of endearment between parent and child reading the book together.  Other phrases provide feelings of comfort and security, such as “sing to you softly” and “cozy up close.” 

Snuggle up with your little one and read The Littlest Things Give the Loveliest Hugs.  This storybook is sure to bring families closer and to make bedtime sweeter.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Home Learning:

• Animal Identification:  Point to the animals and identify them.  Encourage your children to repeat after you and eventually identify them on their own.
• Alliteration:  Identify words with the same beginning sound.  Brainstorm other words with the same beginning sound.
• Rhyme:  Identify rhyming words.  Practice other words that rhyme with them. 
• Habitats:  Discuss how animals live in different places.  Look for clues on the pages for what type of place they live.
• Counting:  Count the animals or animal babies on each page together. 

Want more recommendations from around the web?  Check out Perfect Picture Book Friday.  

Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty (Leigh Hodgkinson)

Title:  Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty

Author: Leigh Hodgkinson

Illustrator:  Leigh Hodgkinson

Target Ages:  1-4

Genre:  Fractured Fairy Tale Picture Book

Publisher Summary: 

Little Goldilocks wants to wear underwear—big-girl underwear that’s not too silly and not too frilly, but just right.  Then she needs to find the perfect potty.  But will she know what to do when she needs to go?  And will she get to the potty in time?

First Lines:

Once upon a time, there was a very little girl named Goldilocks who lived in the woods with her mommy and daddy.  Goldilocks was tired of wearing soggy diapers, so she decided it was time to wear BIG girl underwear. 

Evaluation:

 I am well passed potty training with my kids, but the fairy tale format caused me to pick up this book from a library display.  I am a sucker for a fractured fairy tale. 

I love the way the author used the format of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” in a realistic and creative way.  Instead of dealing with the obstacles in the bears’ home, this Goldilocks must learn how to understand her body’s cues for when to go potty, find a place to go that is “just right” for her, and accept sometimes she makes potty mistakes.  After some ups and downs, she learns to go on the potty.  Her parents praise her for being a clever girl.

The predictable format and structure as well as the child-friendly phrases are conducive to early childhood reading interaction.  After a couple readings, kids can “read along” with you.  For instance, they can predict (based on pictures and lead in prompts) phrases like “too frilly,” “too silly,” “too big,” and “too small.”  There are some other engaging words they will want to say along with the characters, such as “uh-oh,” “yay,” and “just right.”

The bright colors and vivid illustrations include things children love, like animals, rainbows, stars, hearts, and toys.  Goldilocks is pictured in everyday situations like playing with her toys, eating with her family (appears to be an allusion to the porage from the original fairy tale), and reading books.  Mom and dad are present, but the focus is on Goldilocks feeling empowered to understand her own body and to learn to read its cues. 

This book is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, whether they are being introduced to the concept of potty training or struggling to perfect it. 

My Parenting Potty Training Experience: 

Around the mom-table you may hear about  “advanced” kids fully trained at 12 or 18 months. However, those situations are extremely rare. The average age for being fully potty trained is 3 years old, meaning some master it before but about just as many master it after.  Do not fret if your child is not an early potty master.

Do not compare your child’s progress (or lack thereof) to others’.  I made that mistake with my first child.  Fortunately, she got the BM down early, but peeing on the potty did not interest her.  I pushed her.  She pushed backed.  One day, I put her on the potty.  She did nothing, so I put big girl panties on her.  A couple minutes later, she was standing watching TV.  She nonchalantly peed in her spot.  I quit pushing.  A couple days before she turned 3, she decided on her own she was tired of wet diapers.  She was fully potty trained. 

I did not push my son.   He was a child that was always on his own milestone schedule.  It took him slightly longer to be fully trained, about 3 years, 4 months.  I barely remember his experience because I did not push and stress.  I encouraged, but waited patiently.

Bottom Line: Whether you stress and push or you relax and wait, your child will eventually be potty trained.  In the grand scheme, it does not matter if it is 24, 36, or 40 months. 

Activities and Extension Ideas:

Potty Training Milestones

30 Best-Ever Potty Training Tips

Potty-Training Games

Potty Training Charts HERE, HERE, and HERE

5 Ways to Keep Toddlers Entertained While Potty Training

Do you have any potty training advice?  Tell us in the comments.

Visit Susanna Hill's Blog for more Perfect Picture Book Suggestions.

Tantrums, Hurt Feelings, and Selfishness: Helping Children Deal With Their Emotions

Books are ideal springboards for discussing a wide array of emotional responses.  With picture books, parents and educators can help children identify their feelings and deal with them in an healthy manner. The following 10 picture books focus on some of the most common emotional issues in early childhood.

When Sophie’s Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt
Molly Bang

Hurt Feelings, Dealing with Criticism

Sophie paints a picture in a creative rather than realistic manner. A classmate criticizes her, causing her to feel hurt and sad.  A thoughtful teacher helps them deal with the conflict.

Duck, Duck, Dinosaur

Kallie George/Oriol Vidal

Jealousy, Self-Centeredness, Sibling Rivalry, Competitiveness

Feather, Flap, and Spike are siblings who each want to stand out and get their mother’s attention.  They compete over who is the biggest, sweetest, and funniest.  However, the trio realize it is better to play and to cuddle together than to argue over who is the “best.”

Elephantantrum!

Gillian Shields/Cally Johnson-Isaacs

Tantrum, Self-Centeredness, Manners

Ellie has everything, but she wants more.  She refuses to get out of bed until her father buys her an elephant.  When it arrives, he takes over her toys, her room, and even her place at school.  He demands she do everything for him.  If she doesn’t, he throws a huge Elephantantrum!  This role-reversing experience teaches Ellie the importance of manners, sharing, and relationships.

Horrible Bear!

Ame Dyckman/Zachariah OHora

Tantrum, Rudeness, Mean Words

A girl peaks into a bear’s cave while he sleeps.  Rolling over, he accidently breaks her kite.  Even though she is the one invading HIS space, she calls him a “horrible bear” and stomps off.  Now, the bear is angry!  Together, they learn that acting out in an angry and selfish manner is not the solution.

How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad?

Jane Yolen/Mark Teague

Tantrum, Angry, Selfishness

Sometimes, dinosaurs get mad like when they don’t get their way, when they are told “no,” or when they have to take a nap.  Sometimes they have dinosaur-sized tantrums.  Other times they count to ten, take a time out, breathe calmly, and obey.   Most importantly, they hug and apologize.

Crankenstein

Samantha Berger/Dan Santat

Grumpy

Beware of Crankenstein!  He’s an ordinary kid who transforms into a monster of grumpiness!  Using a little humor and hyperbole, children will see what a crabby person looks and acts like (so hopefully they won’t want to be one).

Betty Goes Bananas

Steve Anthony

Frustration, Tantrum

Betty loves bananas.  She just cannot seem to get it open, so she throws a huge frustrated tantrum!  Her friend toucan helps her.  Then, she gets mad because she wanted to do it by herself.  Can Betty learn how to control her frustration?

Clark the Shark

Bruce Hale/Guy Francis

Boisterous Behavior

Clark is rowdy.  He is enthusiastic about life—sometimes just a bit much for his friends and teacher.  With a little guidance and some self-control, he learns:  “There’s a time and place for everything” and “Sometimes you stay cool.

Mine!

Sue Heap

Selfishness, Siblings

Amy loves her blankie and toys.  When her siblings want to join in the fun, she responses selfishly with, “Mine!”  After seeing how sad her behavior makes her brothers, she decides to share.

Grumpy Pants

Claire Messer
Grumpy
Penguin is in a bad mood.  No matter what he does, he just can’t seem to shake it!  He learns some healthy ways to help him change his perspective.

Down by the Barn (Will Hillenbrand)

Title:  Down by the Barn

Author: Will Hillenbrand

Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand

Target Ages: 0-6

First Lines:

Down by the barn,

early in the morning,

see the little wagons

all in a row!

See the tractor driver

pull his little lever…

Puff, Puff

Clink, Clank,

OFF WE G0!

Amazon Summary:  “Down by the barn, early in the morning, a farmer drives his tractor, stopping along the way to pick up a calf, then a chick, then a pig. The group of animals grows and grows until at last they reach their destination...and find a surprise.”

Evaluation: 

I love the rhythm and repetition of the text, making it ideal for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners.  As each animal joins the parade, a new animal sound is added for a cumulative choral romp. Children will want to mimic and participate as you recite it. 

Midway through there is dramatic tension as a fox jumps out in an attempt to grab the chick. He is quickly and humorously put in his place though.  Another highlight that young readers will anticipate and enjoy is the sweet ending.  

The exuberant mixed-media illustrations are vivid and endearing. Down by the Barn is a perfect read out loud selection.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Practice animal sounds together
• Choral reading
• Dramatic play—act out the reading as a class or using toys/pictures/dress up masks
• Sequencing—anticipate the order of events in follow up readings; after a couple times reading through it, practice putting the events in order using pictures

For more Perfect Picture Books, visit Susanna Hill's blog.